JPH0548029U - Coordinate position input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] As a peripheral device such as a computer, a coordinate position input device that solves inaccuracy of input in a coordinate position input device that indicates a moving direction and a moving amount, and has a small size and excellent characteristics. The purpose is to provide. [Structure] A control ball 1, a truncated cone-shaped rotating shafts 4 and 5 that are in contact with the control ball 1 at one point while changing in diameter in the axial direction, and a support shaft 6 that is also in contact with the control ball 1. To be done. With this configuration, the escape force of the control ball 1 can be prevented, the riding on the ball can be prevented, and accurate coordinate position detection can be performed.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a target position input device for instructing a moving direction and a moving amount as a peripheral device such as a computer.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, a palm-sized mouse and a palm-sized trackball have been generally known as coordinate position input devices, but in recent years, with the increase in the number of portable computers, coordinate input devices have also been used for these portable computers. It is necessary to have a very small size that is convenient for carrying, rather than the palm size.

A conventional coordinate position input device will be described below. 3 and 4 are a side view and a plan view of the main parts of the coordinate position input device which is downsized to one key size and installed on a standard keyboard.

In the figure, 1 is a control ball that can be rotated in any direction, and 2 and 3 are position information detectors for the X axis and the Y axis, which detect the moving direction and the moving amount by the rotation of the control ball. Is. Reference numerals 4 and 5 are rotary shafts that interlock with the position information detection units 2 and 3, and 6 is a support shaft that supports the control ball 1.

Reference numerals 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b are fitting portions of the rotation shafts 4, 5 and the support shaft 6 with bearings (not shown), and the rotation shafts 4, 5 and the support shaft 6 are Each of the fitting portions 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b is rotatably supported by two bearings.

Although not shown in the figure, position information for converting the detection values of the position information detecting units 2 and 3 into signals corresponding to the detection values is provided at positions corresponding to the position information detecting units 2 and 3. Each conversion means is arranged.

The main constituent components described above are housed in the housing with a part of the control ball 1 exposed to the outside.

The operation of the coordinate position input device configured as described above will be described below. First, when the input operator inputs the moving direction and the moving amount, the control ball 1 rotates as necessary. Then, the rotary shafts 4 and 5 contacting the outer circumference of the control ball 1 rotate, and the position information detection units 2 and 3 integrated with the rotary shafts 4 and 5 also rotate. Then, the rotation amount of the position information detectors 2 and 3 is output as an electric signal by the position information means that converts the rotation amount into a signal corresponding to the rotation amount, so that the coordinate position can be input as required.

[0009]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the above structure, the control ball has three support points, and a force for the control ball to escape in a direction in which the support point is wide acts. That is, when rotating in the B direction in FIG. 4, a force that escapes in the B direction acts on the control ball, rides on the rotating shaft 5 and the support shaft 6, and the control ball separates from the rotating shaft 4, so that the rotating shaft 4 does not rotate. There was a problem that the X-axis direction of the coordinate position could not be entered accurately. In addition, when rotating in the C direction, there is a problem that the Y axis direction cannot be accurately input by riding on the rotation shaft 4 and the support shaft 6.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a coordinate position input device that enables an input operator to accurately input a necessary movement direction and movement amount.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve this object, the coordinate position input device of the present invention comprises a rotatable control ball, X-axis detecting means for contacting the control ball to detect the amount of movement in the X-axis direction, and the control ball described above. The Y-axis detecting means for contacting the control ball and detecting the amount of movement in the Y-axis direction, and the rotatable support shaft in contact with the control ball. The X-axis detecting means and the Y-axis detecting means are the control balls described above. It is composed of a truncated cone-shaped rotating shaft that is in contact with the rotating shaft, and a position information detecting unit connected to this rotating shaft.

[0012]

[Action]

 The present invention uses a truncated cone-shaped rotary shaft for the X-axis detecting means and the Y-axis detecting means of the coordinate position input device, and changes the diameter of the rotary shaft in the axial direction so as to make contact with the control ball at one point. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the control ball from riding on the rotary shaft and the support shaft, and the input operator can accurately input the necessary moving direction and moving amount.

[0013]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are a side view and a plan view of main components of a coordinate position input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the same parts as those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Reference numerals 11 and 12 denote X-axis detecting means and Y-axis detecting means that are in contact with the control ball 1 and detect the amount of movement in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. 13 and 14, and position information detection units 15 and 16 made of a metal disk having a plurality of slits connected to the rotary shafts 13 and 14, respectively. The amount of movement of the control ball 1 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction can be detected by detecting the rotation of the position information detectors 15 and 16 by an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor.

According to the coordinate position input device of this embodiment, since the rotary shafts 13 and 14 are frustoconical in shape, the contact point with the control ball 1 moves, and the rotary shafts 13 and 14 and the support shaft 6 The positions of the contact points of the control ball 1 become closer to each other at equal intervals, and it becomes difficult for the control ball 1 to ride on the rotation shafts 13 and 14 and the support shaft 6. In addition, because it has a truncated cone shape, it is more difficult to climb without a larger force than in the case of a conventional cylindrical shape, and it is very advantageous to apply it to a coordinate position input device that is extremely small and easy to climb.

[0016]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, the control ball escapes when the control ball rotates by forming the conical trapezoidal shape so as to contact the control ball while changing the shaft diameter in the axial direction. It is possible to block the force and make it difficult to ride on the rotation axis or the support axis, and the coordinate input operator can accurately input the required movement direction and movement amount.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration of main components of a coordinate position input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a configuration of main components of a conventional coordinate position input device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control Ball 6 Support Axis 11 X Axis Detection Means 12 Y Axis Detection Means 13, 14 Rotation Axis 15, 16 Position Information Detecting Section

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kaiji Ota 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A rotatable control ball, and X-axis detecting means which is in contact with the control ball and detects the amount of movement in the X-axis direction.
It has a Y-axis detecting means that is in contact with the control ball and detects the amount of movement in the Y-axis direction, and a rotatable support shaft that is in contact with the control ball, and the X-axis detecting means and the Y-axis detecting means are provided. A coordinate position input device comprising: a truncated cone-shaped rotating shaft that is in contact with a control ball; and a position information detecting unit that is connected to the rotating shaft.